Be Safe App Evaluated by the Mental Health Commission of Canada

The Be Safe App was selected to be evaluated by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) this year! The evaluation was created with the purpose of meeting national standards and, when it becomes available, achieving national accreditation. 

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is a national not-for-profit and charity-status organization that is working to improve mental health outcomes for all people in Canada. Alongside experts, researchers and people with lived experience of mental health challenges, they provide workshops and training, lead research and program initiatives and share information and tools to create change in the mental health system. Recently, the MHCC created a national framework for assessing digital mental health products for the safety, quality and effectiveness for Canadians. 

The Evaluation: The following describes MHCC’s process in developing the Assessment Framework for Mental Health Apps: “We developed the standards with input from Canadian and international stakeholders, including app developers/designers/owners, providers, those with lived and living experience accessing mental health apps, policy and research leaders, and health executives.”

The evaluation measured the Be Safe App over eight domains: The App as an Overview, Usability and Accessibility; Clinical Safety; Professional Assurance; Cultural Safety, Social Responsibility and Equity; Clinical Evidence; Enhanced Data Sovereignty; and Technical Security. After completing a thorough review, collecting evidence and streamlining our processes, the MHCC contracted an organization out of the UK called ORCHA (Organization for the Review of Health and Care Apps) to evaluate the app on each of these points. 

The Result: The Be Safe App was successful in meeting all the standards set out by this national framework! The Be Safe App received a comprehensive evaluation along with a detailed and helpful collection of improvement points, where we can continue to refine and enhance the app. 

What does this all mean? Since its launch in 2014, the Be Safe App has been committed to continuing to grow, evolve, and update as needed and to listen to youth and mental health experts along the way. Undergoing this evaluation from the MHCC was an opportunity for the Be Safe App to test where it stands among apps offered in Canada, scale up our processes and supporting evidence where needed and add credibility and trustworthiness to the app. If you’re using the app, you can be sure the information you put in the app stays confidential to your phone, we’re covered against bugs and technical stability concerns and the mental health language and information on the app truly offer a safe and user-friendly experience for everyone. 

More Info: To learn more about the assessment, visit the Assessment Framework for Mental Health Apps on the MHCC website. 

The Mental Health Commission of Canada has also created a collection of information aimed at helping you make choices for e-mental health products. Visit e-mental health for more details.

Finally, to download and find out more about the FREE Be Safe App, visit besafeapp.ca.